Excavating-machine.



M. G. BUNNELL.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1910.

l,128,09, Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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M. G. BUNNELL.

EXGAVATING MAGHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB.28, 191'0.

Patented Dec. 29, 191 iv 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. G. BUNNELL.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.28, 1910. 1,1 23,089. Patented Dec. 29, 1914;

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WITNESSES AWE/V701? M. G. BUNNELL.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.28,1910.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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MOR'IGN G. BUNNELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK C. AUSTIN, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXCAVATING-MAGHINE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, T914.

Application filed February 28, 1910. Serial No. 546,348.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MORTON Gr. BUNNELL, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illi nois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Excavating-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to excavators of that kind in which a scoop or bucket travels back and forth on the runway that extends crosswise of the ditch, and in which the said scoop or bucket is provided with a movable end wall for ejecting the load, whereby the excavator forms a bank at each side of the ditch, the said scoop or bucket being caused to automatically dump its load each time it reaches either end of the said runway.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide an improved scoop or bucket of this kind that will work smoothly and with certainty and which will not wear out soon or become prematurely impaired by use. Prior to my invention, certain scoops or buckets of this character have not been entirely satisfactory, as the mechanism thereof was liable to get'out of order in a very short time. With my improved construction, however, the mechanism of the bucket is well adapted to stand long and continued use without being impaired. The nature of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

A special object 'is to provide an arrangement of sheaves on the scoop of such character that the scoop and movable wall thereof are connected together, and whereby the draft is communicated diigztly to the scoop.

Another object is to providean arrangement of levers and ropes which will auto- 0 matically tilt the scoop and thereby facilitate filling thereof.

It is also an object to provide certain novel details and features of improvement tending to increase the general efficiency and serviceabi-lity of an excavator of this particular character. V

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a front elevation of an excavator embody ingthe principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the scoop or bucket shown at the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa planof the said scoop or bucket. Fig. 4

is a longitudinal section on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

As thus illustrated, the excavator comon the other side of said frame.

prises a body A which is adapted to extend manner" The operating rope or cable D extends around the sheaves d, d and 03 and then down to the engine drum-E. This is all common and will be readily understood.

The. scoop or bucket F is provided with wheels 7 at each side thereof which travel in the tracks or channels of said runway, each wheel being smaller than the track or chan-,

nel in which it travels, whereby the scoop can tilt slightly in either direction. These wheels f are mounted on axles f that are inclosed in bearings f on the frame F. The body f of the bucket or scoop F has open ends provided with knives or cutting edges f whereby the said scoop or bucket may fill by motion in either direction. The body 7 1s supported on the frame i and is prov ded internally with tracks 7, one at each s de of the bucket. The end wall 7" is provided at its upper end with angle irons i that slide in the guides or tracks f whereby said end wall may close either end of the scoop or bucket. Sheaves f and f are mounted on'the said end wall. Sheaves f and f are mounted on the frame i at one end thereof, and sheaves f and f are mounted on the other'end of said frame. A pair of crossed locking levers f and f is pivoted on the frame at one side of the latter, and a similar pair f" and f is pivoted The lower ends of these levers are adapted to engage the upper end of the wall 7" to lock the latter at either end of the bucket. The stops f engage the curved upper portion of said levers to prevent their lower ends from falling below a certain point. The operating rope D has one end brought around the sheave f then around the sheave f at the other end of the bucket, then around the sheave f on the end wall or ejector f and then secured to the member f which is rigid with the left hand end of the frame the sheave f at the right hand end of the ate the levers f and f and cushion the lock the movable wall.

bucket, then around the sheave 7* on the end wall 7, and is then secured at f to the other end of the frame. When a pull is exerted on the portion 03 of the rope D the bucket is drawn to the left; but when a pull is exerted on the portion 03 of said rope the scoop or bucket moves to the right. At the left hand end of the runway cams d are provided for operating the levers f and) to release the wall f and permit dumping of the load by movement of said wall to the left hand end of the bucket. Spring bumpers d are also pivoted at the end of therunway. Similar cams and bumpers are provided at the right hand end of said runway, to operstoppage of the bucket. Each bumper is disposed in the track in position to be engaged by one of the wheels 7, and yields while the cam is acting on the lever to un- When the scoop or bucket moves to the left, it fills with dirt at the bottom of the ditch and then moves along until the levers f and f" strike the cams 03 This releases the end wall 7" and allows the latter to eject the load from the bucket. Then the motion of the rope D is reversed and the operation repeated at the right hand end of the runway. Thus the scoop or bucket discharges its load each time it reaches either end of the runway. The mechanism of the scoop or bucket is simple and not calculated to get out of order.

Obviously, the bucket or scoop can be arranged in such manner .that the dumping will all be at one side of the machine. Also, the bucket can be arranged to dump at any point in the length of the runway. Any suitable arrangement of the cables can be employed, but the arrangement shown is preferable. This consists, for example, in attaching the rope d at 7 under the sheave f, from the top of the said sheave 7' to the bottom of the sheave 7 around this latter sheave and over the top thereof and back toward the sheavej whereby the rope extends ,from the bottom of the sheave f to the top of the sheave f and from the bottom of the latter to the bottom of the sheave f", in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Theother rope (I is applied in a similar way for drawing the bucket in the opposite direction. Thus the pull is communicated directly to the rear end of the bucket, when traveling in either direction, thus causing its cutting edge to be heldbelow the heel of the scoop. This automatic tilting of the bucket by the pull of e ther rope serves to hold the scoop or bucket'm operative position, and enables it to cut the ground and fill more readily. I

What. I claim as my invention 1s 1. An excavator comprising a runway, a

g bringing it back, over and under the sheave i, then scoop traveling back and forth on said runway, a movable wall for said scoop, a pivoted lever, means cooperating with one end of said lever, for locking the wall in position at one end of said scoop, means for operating the scoop, connected to exert a pull on said wall, and means for engaging and depressing the other end of said lever to unlock the said wall, disposed on said runway in position to bear downward upon said lever.

2. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling back and forth on said runway, a movable wall for said scoop, a pivoted lever, means cooperating with one end of said lever, for locking the wall in position at one end of said scoop, means for operating the scoop, connected to exert a the said wall at the other end of the scoop,

said levers having a common axis.

3. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling b ack and forth on said runway, a movable wall for said scoop, a pivoted lever, means cooperating with one end of said lever, for locking the wall in-position at one end of said scoop, means for operating the scoop, connected to exert a pull on said wall, andmeans for engaging and depressing the other end of said lever to unlock the said wall, disposed on said runway in position to bear downward upon said lever, and a similar lever at the other side of the scoop.

4:. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling back and forth on said runway, a movable wall for said scoop, a pivoted lever, means cooperating with one end of said lever, for locking the wall in position at one end of said scoop, means for operating the scoop, connected to exert a pull on said wall, and means for engaging and depressing the other end of said lever to unlock the said wall, disposed on said runway in position to bear downward upon said lever, a similar lever crossing said other lever to-form a pair of locking levers atone side of the scoop, and a similar pair of crossed locking levers at the other side of the scoop, said levers all having a common axis.

5'. An excavator comprising a scoop,

wheels .for said scoop, a runway therefor, a

movable wall in said scoop, means for looking the wall, means for causing, the unlocking of said wall, means for operat ng the scoop, connected to exert a pull on said wall,

' and a spring'backed stop for the scoop, disposed in the path vof a wheel thereof.

6; An'excavator comprising a runway a scoop'traveling thereon, a movable wall in said scoop, a pair of crossed levers, means cooperating with the lower ends of said levers for lockingsaidwall at opposite ends of the scoop said levers having a common axis, means for operating the scoop and Wall therein, and means for engaging and depressing the upper ends of said levers to unlock the said wall.

7. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling thereon, a movable wall in said scoop, a pair of crossed levers, means cooperating with the lower ends of said levers for locking said wall at opposite ends of the scoop, said levers having a common axis, means for operating the scoop and wall therein, means for engaging and depressing the upper ends of said levers to unlock the said wall, and stops for engaging the upper edges of said levers to limit the upward movement thereof.

8. In an excavator, a runway, a scoop movable back and forth on said runway, a wall movable in said scoop, means for locking the wall at one end of the scoop, means for locking the wall at the other end of the scoop, sheaves on said wall, sheaves at each end of said scoop, a rope secured to one end of the scoop and passing around sheaves on the wall and both ends of the scoop, whereby the draft keeps the scoop tilted in operative position while loading, a similar rope secured to the other end of the scoop and passing around sheaves on the wall and both ends of the scoop, whereby the scoop and wall are interconnected and held together by said ropes, the draft being directly to the rear end-of the scoop for each direction of travel thereof, and means at each end of said runway for tripping said locking means, before the motion of the scoop is reversed, to permit operation of said sheaves, and to cause said wall to eject the load.

9. In an excavator, a runway, a scoop on said runway, a wall movable in said scoop,

a sheave on said wall, a sheave at each end of said scoop, a rope secured at the mouth of said scoop and extending around all of said sheaves, whereby the draft is primarily on the rear end of the scoop, means for locking the wall in position, and means on the runway for unlocking said means, before the motion of the scoop is reversed, to permit operation of said sheaves, and to cause said wall to eject the load.

'10. In an excavator, a scoop, a movable wall in said scoop, sheaves on said Wall, ropes extending in opposite directions around said sheaves and secured to opposite ends of the scoop, whereby draft is communicated indirectly to the scoop, the indirect draft in each case being toward the point of attachment of the rope 1n use, and means for automatically locking and unlocking said 'wall relative to the scoop, serving to control the operation of said sheave and rope connections between the scoop and wall. r

11. In an excavator, a scoop, a movable wall in said scoop, a sheave on said wall, a rope secured at the mouth of the scoop and extending around said sheave, whereby draft.

is communicated indirectly to the scoop, the indirect draft being toward the point of attachment of the rope, and means for automatically locking and unlocking said wall relative to the scoop, serving to control the operation of said sheave and rope connection between the scoop and wall.

12. In an excavator, a scoop, a movable wall in said scoop, asheave on said wall, a rope for operating said scoop, said rope being secured to the front of the scoop and then brought around said sheave and forward through the mouth of the scoop, whereby draft is communicated indirectly to the scoop, and means for automatically locking and unlocking said wall relative to the scoop, serving to control the operation of said sheave and rope connection between the scoop and wall.

13. In an excavator, a hollow scoop, a movable end wall therein, a rope for operating said scoop, having direct connection therewith, means for locking the end wall in position, sheaves for increasing the pull of the rope on the end wall, and for causing the draft to keep the scoop tilted in operative position while loading, means for unlocking the end wall, before the motion of the scoop is reversed, and means for holding the scoop against further movement to permit the operation of said sheaves and cause the end wall to eject the load.

14. In an excavator, a scoop open at each end, a movable wall for alternately closing the ends of said scoop, ropes for operating the scoop in opposite directions, having direct connection therewith, a plurality of sheaves for increasing the pull of said ropes on the said Wall, and for causing the draft to keep the scoop tilted in operative position while loading, and means for automatically locking and unlocking said wall relative to the scoop, serving to control the operation of said sheaves.

15. In an excavator, a scoop, a movable wall in said scoop, an operatingrope, means whereby said rope has a traveling connection with said wall, means whereby the pull of said rope is exerted in opposite directions on said scoop, and means forautomatically locking, and unlocking said wall relative to the scoop, serving to control the operation of said traveling connection.

16. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling on the runway, a movable wall in said scoop, an operating connection for said scoop, means whereby said scoop and wall are interconnected by said connection, to keep the scoop tilted in operative position while loading, and whereby the connection exerts a, pull on said wall, means for locking the wall at the end of the scoop,

serving to prevent movement of said con nection on the scoop, and means for unlocking the wall to permit said pull to displace the wall and thereby discharge the load.

17. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling on the runway, a movable wall in said scoop, an operating connection for said scoop, means whereby said scoop and wall are interconnected by said connection, to keep the scoop tilted in operative position while-loading, and whereby the connection exerts a pull on said wall, devices for locking the connection against operation, means for unlocking said devices to permit said pull to displace the wall and thereby discharge the load, said wall havlng a sheave engaging said connection.

18. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling on the runway, a movable wall in said scoop, an operating connection for said scoop, means whereby said scoop and wall are interconnected by said connection, to keep the scoop tilted in operative position while loading, and whereby the connection exerts a pull on said wall and also directly on the scoop, means for locking the wall at the end of'the scoop, serving to prevent movement of said connection on the scoop, and means for unlocking the wall to permit said pull to displace the wall-and thereby discharge the load, said connection having one fixed point of attachment to said scoop, and a plurality of shifting points of engagement therewith, said scoop thereby subject to the direct pull of said connection, and indirectly through said locking means.

19. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop mounted to travel on said runway, adapted to tilt thereon in a direction to facilitate the filling thereof, a movable wall in said scoop, a rope and sheaves therefor on the scoop and wall, operative to both tilt the scoop in said manner and operate said wall, means for locking the said wall, serving to prevent operation of said sheaves, and means for effecting the release of said wall to ex-- pel the load. v

20. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop mounted to travel on said runway, adapted to tilt thereon in a direction to facilitate the filling thereof, a movable wall in said scoop, a rope and sheaves therefor on the scoop and wall, operative to both tilt the scoop in said manner and operate said wall, means for locking the said wall, serving to prevent operation of said sheaves, means for effecting the release of said wall to expel the load, and a similar rope and set of sheaves and locking and unlocking means for the operation of the bucket in the opposite direction.

21. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop mounted to travel on said runway, adapted to tilt thereon in a direction to facilitate the filling thereof, a movable wall in said scoop, a rope and sheaves therefor on the scoop and wall, operative to both tilt the scoop in said manner and operate said wall, means for locking the said wall, serv-- ing to prevent operation of said sheaves, and means for effecting the release of said wall to expel the load, the sheave first engaged by said rope being disposed at the rearof the scoop.

22. An excavator-comprising a runway, a scoop mounted to travel on said runway, adapted to tilt thereon in a direction to facilitate the filling thereof, a movable wall in said scoop, a rope and sheaves therefor on the scoop and wall, operative to both tilt the scoop in said manner and operate said wall, means for locking the said wall, serving to prevent operation of said sheaves, and means for efi'ecting the release of said wall to expel the load, the end of said rope being fixed on the bucket.

23. An excavator comprising a runway, a scoop traveling on said runway, a movable wall in said'scoop, means for locking the said wall, means for operating the scoop and wall therein, means for unlocking the said wall to expel the load, and a yielding stop for said scoop, movable a distance with the scoop while the wall is being unlocked.

24. In an excavator, the combination of a runway, a scoop traveling on said runway, a movable wall in said scoop, a rope and sheaves for interconnecting said scoop and wall, and means for preventing operation of said sheaves and wall while the scoop is loading, said rope extending first to a sheave on the scoop and thereby operating to pull the bucket forward by direct draft thereon.

25. In an excavator, the combination of a runway, a scoop traveling on said runway, a movable wall in said scoop, a rope and sheaves for interconnecting said scoop and wall, and means for preventing operation of said sheaves and wall, said rope thereby operative to pull the bucket forward by direct draft thereon, the said rope extending above the scoop and directly to the rear end.

thereof.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 22nd day of February, 1910.

MORTON G. BUNNELL. Witnesses:

S. LEWIS, WM. B. DARNION. 

